Blind Spot Indicator Assembly With PCB Alignment and Directed Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blind spot indicators in motor vehicles often direct illumination in unintended directions, leading to inefficiencies and increased assembly costs.
Innovation Solution
A single-unit blind spot indicator assembly with a housing, lens, and printed circuit board (PCB) configuration that ensures proper alignment and connection of components, allowing efficient illumination direction towards the driver while reducing assembly complexity and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional blind spot indicators are used with separate components, then assembly flexibility is maintained, but assembly complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the housing, lens assembly, and printed circuit board into a single integrated blind spot indicator assembly. The housing contains an interior cavity that receives the PCB, the lens assembly closes the aperture, and all components are pre-aligned as one unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate assembly steps for mounting these components individually to the mirror assembly, thereby reducing assembly complexity and costs while maintaining manufacturing ease
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional blind spot indicators are used with separate components, then component replacement is easier, but illumination direction control is less precise
Solution Approach 1:
The housing, lens assembly, and PCB are integrated into a single pre-aligned unit where the PCB is positioned within the housing's interior cavity and the lens assembly closes the aperture. This integration ensures precise illumination direction alignment is maintained during assembly. For repairs, the entire integrated assembly can be replaced as one unit or disassembled if needed, balancing precision with maintainability
3Use of energy by moving object
If conventional blind spot indicators direct illumination in multiple directions, then coverage area increases, but energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens assembly is specifically designed and positioned to close the aperture of the housing, directing illumination locally towards the driver's position. The PCB is arranged within the housing's interior cavity with its aperture-facing surface oriented to project light through the lens. This localized direction control ensures illumination energy is efficiently directed where needed (towards the driver) rather than being wasted in unintended directions, while still providing adequate coverage
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The assembly effectively directs illumination towards the driver, minimizing misdirection and reducing assembly costs through optimized component alignment and integration.
Implementation Method 1
A lens assembly is also arranged to close the aperture of the housing
Implementation Method 2
At least two light sources are also arranged on a printed circuit board (PCB)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4
AI summary
The blind spot indicator assembly 100 comprises a housing 110 including a first side having an aperture 145 closed by a lens assembly 170 and a cavity 120 with an interior surface. A printed circuit board (PCB) 180 has at least two connection pins 200 extending laterally such that when not protruding outward an edge of the PCB 180, a longitudinal dimension d1 of the aperture 145 is equal to or greater than the longitudinal dimension d3 of the PCB 180, and when connection pins 200 protrude outward an edge of the PCB 180, the longitudinal dimension d1 of aperture 145 is equal to or greater than a total dimension d6 comprising the longitudinal dimension d3 of the of the PCB 180 plus a projecting distance d4 the connection pins 200 project beyond the longitudinal dimension d3 of the of the PCB 180.